FIFES 

AND 

DRUMS 


Poems 
«i  America  at  War 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2008  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/fifesdrumsOOnewy 


Hate  Loar 


FIFES  AND  DRUMS 


The  VIGILANTES  Books 


FIFES  AND  DRUMS.     A  Collection  of  Poems  of 
America  at  War.    12mo.    1^2  pp.    $1.00. 

THE  VIGILANTES 

A   NON-PARTISAN   ORGANIZATION   OF  AUTHORS, 
ARTISTS    AND    OTHERS 


To  arouse  the  country  to  a  realization  of  the  impor- 
tance of  the  problems  confronting  the  American  people. 

To  awaken  and  cultivate  in  the  youth  of  the  country 
a  sense  of  public  service  and  an  intelligent  interest  in 
citizenship  and  national  problems. 

To  work  vigorously  for  preparedness;  mental,  moral 
and  physical. 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Porter  Emerson  Browne  Monroe  Douglas  Robinson 

Ellis  Parker  Butler  Julian  Street 

Irvin  S.  Cobb  Augustus  Thomas 

Thomas  C.  Desmond  Charles  Hanson  Towne 

Hermann  Hagedorn  Robert  J.  Wildhack 

Charles  J.  Rosebault, 

Managing  Editor. 

For  further  information  apply  to 
THE  VIGILANTES 

505  Fifth  Avenue  New  York  Citt 


The    VIGILANTES    Books 

^FIFES  AND  DRUMS 

A  COLLECTION  OF  POEMS 
OF  AMERICA  AT  WAR 


NEW  YORK 
GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,    1917, 
BY    GEORGE    H.   DORAN    COMPANY 


PRINTED    IN    THE    UNITED   STATES    OF   AMERICA 


FOREWORD 

These  poems,  written  under  the  immediate 
stress  of  great  events  by  those  who  have  banded 
themselves  together  under  the  name  of  The  Vigi- 
lantes, furnish  a  striking  record  of  the  emotional 
reactions  of  the  American  people  during  the  fort- 
night preceding  and  the  six  weeks  following  the 
declaration  of  war.  They  are  presented  to  the 
public  in  the  belief  that  men  and  women  in  every 
corner  of  the  Union  will  find  reflected  in  them 
some  of  the  love  and  aspiration  they  themselves 
are  experiencing  for  their  re-discovered  country. 


CONTENTS 


America  Unafraid  . 
The  Ultimate  Argument  . 
The  Song       .     .     .     .     . 
Peace  with  a  Sword     . 
The  Pacifist's  Lament 
At  Ant  Price      .... 

The  Answer 

In  Time  of  Danger 

To  America 

Ode  to  Tonsilitis    .     .     . 

April  2nd 

The  Flag  Goes  Up  .     .     . 

Fall  In! 

Black  Flag! 

A  Song  of  Democracy  . 

Our  Atm 

The  Binding  of  the  Beast 

The  Flag 

To  All  Americans  . 


PAGE 

Charles  Hanson  Towne     .  13 

Arthur  Guilerman  ...  16 

Marion  Couthouy  Smith  .  18 

Abbic  Farwell  Brown  .      .  22 

Don  Marquis    ....  24 

Lee  Wilson  Dodd    ...  25 

Marion  Couthouy  Smith    .  29 

Clinton  Scollard      ...  31 

Lee  Wilson  Dodd    ...  33 

Wallace  Irwin  ....  35 

Theodosia  Garrison      .      .  37 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr     .  38 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr     .  40 

Edith  M.  Thomas  ...  42 

Lee  Wilson  Dodd    ...  44 

Louis  How 47 

George  Sterling       ...  49 

George  E.  Woodberry    .      .  53 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr     .  55 


viii 

contents 

PAQE 

War  Song  of  America  . 

.   Grantland  Rice 

57 

Processional 

.   Cale  Young  Ri.ce    . 

59 

Omniscient  Mr.  Fall   . 

.  Lee  Wilson  Dodd    . 

61 

The  Stars  and  Stripes 

.    Theodosia  Garrison 

64 

The  German-American 

.   Katherine  Lee  Rates     . 

66 

Our  Bargain 

.  Amelia  Josephine  Rurr 

68 

Blow,  O  Ye  Bugles 

.  Clinton  Scollard 

70 

America  in  Arms 

.  Percy  MacKaye 

71 

To  the  Allies     . 

.  Laura  E.  Richards 

74 

76 

.       77 

The  Return  of  the  Exiles  George  E.  Woodberry   . 

.       79 

Florence  Mary  Rennett 

.       80 

Shoulder  to  Shoulder 

.   Clinton  Scollard 

.       82 

The  Roundabout  Commit- 

tee AND  THE  ClRCUMLl 

)CU- 

tion  Board 

.  Wallace  Irwin  . 

.       84 

Lee  Wilson  Dodd    . 

.       88 

America,  To  Arms!  . 

.  Rlanche ShoemakerWagstaff     91 

A  Lesson  in  Manners 

.   Theodosia  Garrison 

.       92 

Come  to  the  Colors 

.  Laura  E.  Richards 

94 

Our  Flag  in  France 

.  Marion  Couthouy  Smith 

.       96 

The  American  Flag 

.   Theodosia  Garrison 

.       98 

The  Young  Blood  Speaks  Mary  Farley  Sanborn 


100 


CONTENTS 

IX 

Marching    with    Papa 

PAGE 

102 

105 

Willard  Wattles      .     . 

107 

Currency 

.  M.  E.  Buhler    .     .     . 

110 

To  Our  Women  . 

.  Amelia  Josephine  Burr 

111 

To  the  Mothers 

.  Marion  Couthouy  Smith 

113 

The  Girls  They  Left 

Be- 

hind  Them 

.    Theodosia  Garrison 

115 

A  French  Captain  . 

.  Amelia  Josephine  Burr 

117 

The  Recruit 

.  Reginald  Wright  Kauffmar 

i     119 

Prayer  During  Battle 

.  Hermann  Hagedorn 

121 

They  Also  Serve     . 

.  Faith  Baldwin  . 

122 

His  Job     .... 

,   Amelia  Josephine  Burr 

124 

Concerning  Planting 

.  John  Curtis  Underwood 

126 

Spades  Are  Trumps! 

.  John  Kemble     . 

130 

The  War  of  Bread 

.  Edith  M.  Thomas  .      . 

132 

Columbia's  Shop 

.   Theodosia  Garrison 

134 

The  Childless    . 

.   Amelia  Josephine  Burr 

136 

138 

A  Song  of  Confidence 

.   Theodosia  Garrison 

139 

"Ride,  Vigilantes!" 

.  Edith  M.  Thomas  . 

141 

Surely  the  time  for  making  songs  has  come 
Now  that  the  Spring  is  in  the  air  again. 
Trees  blossom  though  men  bleed;  and  after  rain 

The  robins  hop;  and  soon  the  bees  will  hum. 

Long  was  the  winter,  long  our  lips  were  dumb. 

Long  under  snow  our  loyal  dreams  have  lain. 
Surely  the  time  for  making  songs  has  come 

Now  that  the  Spring  is  in  the  air  again. 

The  Spring! — with  bugles  and  a  rumbling  drum! 
Oh,  builders  of  high  music  out  of  pain. 
Now  is  the  hour  with  singing  to  make  vain 

The  boast  of  kings  in  Pandemonium! 

Surely  the  time  for  making  songs  has  come! 

E.  H. 


FIFES  AND  DRUMS 


AMERICA     UNAFRAID 


America  will  wake 

To  the  stern  task  before  her.      She  will  break 

The  bonds  of  Sloth  and  dull  Indifference, 

And,  with  the  soul  of  Lincoln  in  her  eyes, 

Dare  to  be  great  and  wise; 

Dare  to  be  valiant  with  the  valor  still 

That  echoes  from  the  crest  of  Bunker  Hill; 

The  valor  that  gave  Grant  and  Lee  their  fame 

After   the   battle-flame ; 

The  valor  that  has  kept  our  country  whole 

While  the  clean  years  unroll; 
13 


14  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

The  valor  that  has  giv'n  us  all  body,  and  heart, 
and  soul! 

II 

America  will  be 

As  one  in  her  old  love  of  Liberty. 

She  will  remember  naught  of  party  and  creed 

In  her  great  hour  of  need; 

But  one  in  spirit,  one  in  high  accord, 

Her  people  will  await  the  final  word 

That   bids    them    strike    for    Justice.        Her   keen 

sword 
Will    never   be    unsheathed,   save   in   the   name   of 

Christ,  our  Lord ! 

Ill 

There  is  a   fear 

Running    through    our    broad    country,    far    and 

near; 
A  rumor  that  foul  traitors  at  our  gate 
Whisper,  and  plan,  and  wait; 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  15 

A  rumor  that  beneath  us  crawls  the  hostile  worm 

of  hate.  .  .  • 
It  may  be  so!      But  I  believe  that  now 
Each  man  can  disavow 
Old  enmities,  and,  loyal  to  the  end, 
Count  it  his  privilege  to  be  his  country's   friend; 
Count  it  his  right  to  suffer  for  the  land 
That  hailed  him,  and  stretched  forth  a  welcoming 

hand 
When  he,  heart-broken,  from  an  alien  shore, 
Came  as  a  stranger  to  our  open  door. 

IV 

America,  beware ! 

Lest,  knowing  the  red  burden  you  must  bear, 

You  falter  now  !    We  pray  for  Peace — white  Peace ; 

Yet  if  soft  days  must  cease, 

We  shall  go  forth,  fearless,  and  as  one, 

Until  our  task   for   Liberty   is  done. 

Charles  Hanson  Toicne. 


THE     ULTIMATE     ARGUMENT 

Before  the  high  court  of  King  Lion  the  Strong 
The  wily  Hyena  appeared  with  a  throng 
Of  Jackals  as  witnesses,  charging  the  Ass 
With  wronging  him   foully  by  eating  the  grass. 

"This  rogue,"  the  Hyena  indignantly  cried, 
"Without  any  warrant  express  or  implied, 
Devours  the  herbage  so  luscious  and  sweet 
And  cruelly  leaves  me  with  nothing  to  eat. 
I   pray   the   Court,  therefore,   to   grant   me   relief. 
Including  permission  to  dine  on  the  thief." 

The  Ass  pleaded  humbly  with  down-hanging  ears, 

(Addressing  a  Jury  composed  of  his  peers)  : 

"Dear  friends,  that  I  graze  in  the  meadow  is  true, 

But  not  without  warrant.      My  course  I  pursue 
1G 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  17 

By  right  of  a  Document  sealed  with  a  Seal — 
King  Solomon's  firman  which  none  may  repeal." 

"Ha!"   snarled   the   Hyena;    "but  where   is   your 

proof?" 
"My  warrant  is  writ,"  said  the  Ass,  "on  my  hoof." 
"Indeed!"  sneered  the  Plaintiff;  "then  show  it,  I 

beg." 
"Look  well !"  brayed  the  Ass,  as  he  drew  up  a  leg. 
Close  peered  the  Hyena.     The  Ass  gave  a  snort 
And  kicked  the  Conspirator  clean  out  of  Court. 

L'Envoi 

While  Patience  is  praiseworthy,  even  in  Gath, 

And  Sweetness  may  possibly  turn  away  Wrath, 

The  mildest  can  have  but  one  answer  to  give 

Oppressors  who  question  their  title  to  live. 

Arthur  Guiterman. 


THE  SONG 

Along  the  misty  beaches,  where  the  great  wind- 
voices  cry, 

Where  the  sea's  reverberant  thunder  sends  its  chal- 
lenge to  the  sky, 

And  its  deeper  echoes  lure  us,  from  the  countries 
where  they  die — 

A  song  is  sounding  on! 

I  can  hear  it,  clear  and  urgent,  over  all  the  break- 
ers' rage; 

It  is  pleading  for  the  memory  of  a  noble  heri- 
tage; 

'Twas   a   woman's   voice  that   sang  it,  in   a   past 

heroic  age — 

Its  call  is  sounding  on. 
18 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  19 

Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of 
the  Lord; 

He  is  trampling  out  the  vintage  where  the  grapes 
of  wrath  are  stored. 

He  has  loosed  the  fateful  lightning  of  His  terri- 
ble swift  sword; 

His  truth  is  marching  on. 

It   is   calling  with  the  sea-winds    far   across   the 

troubled  wave, 
Where  Belgium  in  her  beauty  lies  all  one  trampled 

grave, 
And  still  her  proud  defenders  lift  the  paean  of  the 

brave — 

Her  soul  is  marching  on! 

It  cries  along  the  bloody  fields,  from  Russia  back 

to  France, 
Where  the  great  united  nations  hold  the  savage 

foe's  advance; 


20  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Where  the  stars  above  the  trenches  meet  the  sol- 
dier's dying  glance — 

Its  call  is  sounding  on. 

/  have  read  a  fiery  gospel,  writ  in  burnished  rows 

of  steel; 
"As  ye  deal  with  My  contemners,  so  with  you  My 

grace  shall  deal; 
Let  the  Hero,  born  of  woman,  crush  the  serpent 

with  his  heel, 

Since  God  is  marching  on." 

My  country — oh,  my  country  !     Clear-sighted  then 
and  strong, 

A   shield   for  the  defenceless  and   a  flame  against 
the  wrong, 

True  to  the  ringing  echoes  of  that  mighty  march- 
ing song 

That  still  is  sounding  on — 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  21 

My  country — oh,  my  country !     The  old  brave  call 

has  come; 
Too  long  your  steps  were  lagging,  too  long  your 

soul  was  dumb; 
Tune  now  your  wakening  pulses  to  the  throbbing 

of  the  drum, 

While  God  is  marching  on. 

He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never 
call  retreat; 

He  is  sifting  out  the  hearts  of  men  before  His 
judgment  seat; 

Oh,  he  swift,  my  soul,  to  answer  Him!  Be  jubi- 
lant, my  feet! 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Marion  Couthouy  Smith. 


PEACE  WITH  A  SWORD 

Peace  !     How  we  love  her  and  the  good  she  brings 

On  broad,  benignant  wings ! 

And  we  have  clung  to  her — how  close  and  long, 

While  she  has  made  us  strong! 

Now  we  must  guard  her  lest  her  power  cease, 

And  in  the  harried  world  be  no  more  peace. 

Even  with  a  sword, 

Help  us,  O  Lord! 

lor  us  no  patient  peace,  the  weary  goal 

Of  a  war-sickened  soul; 

No  peace  that  battens  on  misfortune's  pain, 

Swollen  with  selfish  gain, 

Bending  slack  knees  before  a  calf  of  gold, 

With  nerveless  fingers  impotent  to  hold 

The  freeman's  sword — 

Not  this,  O  Lord ! 
22 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  23 

Not  peace  bought  for  us  by  the  martyred  dead 

Of  countries  reeking  red; 

No  peace  flung  to  us  from  a  tyrant's  hand, 

Sop  to  a  servile  land. 

Our  Peace  the  State's  strong  arm  holds  high  and 

free, 
The  "placid  Peace  she  seeks  in  liberty," 

Yea,  "with  a  sword." 

Help  us,  O  Lord ! 

Bring  out  the  banners  that  defied  a  king ; 
Then  tattered  colors  bring 
That  made  a  nation  one  from  sea  to  sea, 
In  godly  liberty. 

Unsheathe  the  patriot  sword  in  time  of  need, 
America !     Forth,  forth  your  armies  lead ! 
"Peace,  with  a  sword ! 

Help  us,  O  Lord !" 

Abbie  Furwell  Brown. 


THE  PACIFIST'S  LAMENT 

The  world  is  so  full  of  a  number  of  thugs, 

I'm  sure  we  should  all  be  as  humble  as  bugs. 

Don  Marquis. 


24 


AT  ANY  PRICE 

De  Puyster  Jones  at  twenty-three 

Is  not  a  pleasant  sight  to  see ; 

Although  his  duds  cost  many  dollars, 

From  silken  socks  to  five-ply  collars, 

Though  shaved  and  bathed  and  deftly  scented — 

One  feels  he  should  have  been  prevented. 

His  lips  hang  loose,  his  chest  caves  in, 

His  face  is  minus  brow  or  chin; 

And  when  one  hears  the  creature  chatter 

Somehow  it  simply  doesn't  matter. 

Yet  young  De  Puyster  Jones  has  money, 

And  when  his  money  talks — it's  funny 

(Or  sad)  to  note  that  many  listen; 

His  brain  is  slime,  and  slime  will  glisten. 

In  fact,  the  moron,  more's  the  pity, 
25 


26  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  witty; 

And  though  obscenely  idiotic, 

His  ancient  anecdotes  erotic 

Are  often  greeted  with  guffaws; 

And  his  views  meet  with  wild  applause. 

Now  what — I  ask  in  thunderous  tones — 
What  are  the  views  of  D.  P.  Jones? 

"Patriotism's  just  an  ism  ! 
A  fellah  ought  to  be 
Above  the  lingo 
Of  the  Jingo; 
Flags  don't  appeal  to  me." 

"If  a  chap's  rational,  he's  international; 
He  knows  there's  nothing  in 

The  stuff  that's  local; 

I'm  not  a  yokel 
To  cheer  when  the  bands  begin." 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  27 

'And  politicians  who  yap  of  missions, 
Ideals,  and  all  that  j  unk — 

Just  let  'em  gab,  brag, 

And  hold  the  grab-bag; 
But  don't  fall  for  their  bunk !" 

"You  take  this  crisis!     A  glance  suffices 
To  wise  you  what  it  means ; 
Munition  makers 
And  journalist  fakers 
Stuffing  millions  in  their  jeans!" 

"We're  safe  and  happy,  so  why  get  scrappy  ? 
Say,  what's  the  sense  in  war? 

For  God's  sake  chuck  it ! 

The  whole  show's  muck !    It 
'S  not  what  I'm  living  for !" 

"Not  this  little  Willy !    I'm  not  that  silly- 
No  drums  and  guns  for  mine! 


28  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

What's  the  odds  if  they  rat  us? 
They  can't  get  at  us. 
Georgie's  fleet  is  doing  fine!" 

Such — I  repeat  in  thunderous  tones — 

Such  are  the  views  of  D.  P.  Jones. 

Lee  Wilson  Dodd. 


THE  ANSWER 

There  is  one  answer  to  all  dreams  of  ease — 

Belgium ! 
One  answer  to  the  Teuton's  cunning  pleas — 

Belgium ! 
One  test  and  touchstone  for  all  hearts  that  fee] ; 
One  word  that  is  a  stroke  of  steel  on  steel, 
A  stroke  whose  clangor  sets  a  long  note  ringing 
That  falls  upon  our  ears  like  distant  singing. 

One  word  for  you  who  say  the  strife  must  cease- 
Belgium  ! 

Justice  to  her  must  hold  the  key  of  peace — 
Belgium ! 

And  you  who  clamor  that  our  cry  should  be 

Not  love  of  country,  but  Humanity. 
29 


30  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Have  you  not  heard  it,  as  you  pass  unheeding? 
Humanity!     In  her  the  world  lies  bleeding! 

Not  she  alone  the  dark  decree  must  know — 

Belgium ! 
The  first  in  that  great  sisterhood  of  woe, 

Belgium ! 
She  speaks,  my  Country,  with  your  own  lost  dead; 
She  brings   one  answer   to   your   shrinking  dread; 
Draw  now  your  sword,  and  set  the  clear  stroke 

ringing 
That  falls  upon  our  hearts  like  mighty  singing! 

Belgium! 

Marion   Oouthouy  Smith. 


IN  TIME  OF  DANGER 

Blind  to  danger  we  have  been, 
Walking  on  our  wonted  ways 
Through  the  drifting  of  the  days, 
In  and  out,  and  out  and  in, 

To  our  patriot  duty  stranger, 
Wandering  as  in  a  maze, 
Blind  to  danger ! 

Deaf  to  danger,  and  our  need, 
We  have  drunken  to  the  lees 
Of  the  drugged  wine  of  ease; 

To  our  honor  given  no  heed, 

Paltered,  played  the  money-ehanger; 

Cast  aside  old  memories, 

Deaf  to  danger ! 
31 


32  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Blind  and  deaf  to  danger?    Nay! — 
Fling  the  call  from  shore  to  shore ! 
Wake!  the  slothful  hour  is  o'er! 
Wake!  be  gone  with  base  delay, 

To  our  trust  no  longer  stranger ! 
Freemen,  rouse,  and  be  no  more 
Blind  to  danger — 
Deaf  to  danger ! 


Clinton  Scollard. 


TO  AMERICA 

Yes,  Mother,  it  is  true ; 

Bad    daughters    and    worse    sons    we've    been    to 

you — 
Taking  all,  giving  naught — 
Till  we  have  brought 
You  down  to  this.  .  .  . 

You  need 

A  starker  breed 

To  cherish  you  and  guard, 

Keep  watch  and  ward,  , 

Or  strike  if  strike  they  must ! 

Mother,  our  shameful  heads  are  in  the  dust — 

Abject — 

Before  you.  ... 

33 


34  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Too  mild,  too  patient! — yet  once  more  forgive 
Our  faithless  greed,  young  folly,  old  neglect! 
For  though  we  perish  from  you,  you  shall  live — 
Mother ! — through  humbled  daughters  who  respect, 
Through  chastened  sons  who  serve  you  and  adore 

you. 

Lee  Wilson  Dodd. 


ODE  TO  TONSILITIS 

Since  Senatorial  Rules  decree  once  more — 

Even  while  Prussia  threatens  us  with  slaying — 

That  one  wild  donkey  still  may  hold  the  floor 
And  block  an  entire  nation  with  his  braying; 

Yea,  since  the  chin  is  mightier  than  the  sword, 
The  lung  and  larynx  deadlier  than  reason 

And  Robert  spurns  the  Flag  beneath  the  Ford 
In  one  continuous  honk  of  windy  treason; 

Ah!  then  come  forth,  thou  dread  but  welcome  one, 
Nymph  of  the  swollen  throat,  fair  Tonsilitis ! 

Go  gulping  to  the  Sage  of  Madison, 

Woo  him  with  wreaths  of  asthma  and  bronchitis ! 

Snuggle  beside  his  Senatorial  seat, 

Lure  him  with  kisses  sneezy,  damp  and  reckless 
35 


36  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Until  the  cold  which  now  afflicts  his  feet 

Climbs  to  the  place  where  Mabel  wore  the  neck- 
lace. 

Then  must  that  rare  trombone  grow   fogged  and 
cease, 

That  wealth  of  words  lie  fallow  in  his  wallet; 
There'll  be  no  more  Atrocities  of  Peace 

Committed  then  by  Robert  M.  La  Follette. 

Then  will  the  eagle  o'er  the  rostrum  shriek 
While  patriots  clasp  hands  in  satisfaction, 
"The  gentleman  from  Wisconsin  cannot  speak — 
Rejoice,  ye  nations!      Now  we'll   get   some  ac- 
tion!" 

Wallace  Irwin. 


APRIL  2nd. 

We  have  been  patient — and  they  named  us  weak ; 
We  have  been  silent — and  they  judged  us  meek. 
Now,  in  the  much-abused,  high  name  of  God 
We  speak. 

Oh,  not  with  faltering  or  uncertain  tone — 
With  chosen  words  we  make  our  meaning  known, 
That  like  a  great  wind  from  the  West  shall  shake 
The  double  throne. 

Our  colors  flame  upon  the  topmost  mast, — 

We  lift  the  glove  so  arrogantly  cast, 

And  in  the  much-abused,  high  name  of  God 

We  speak  at  last. 

Theodosia  Garrison. 


37 


THE  FLAG  GOES  UP 

Whether  we  gave  him  doubts  or  praises, 

That  is  a  thing  of  yesterday. 
We  rally  to  the  flag  he  raises, 

We  go  the  inevitable  way, 
But  not  with  pageantry  or  shouting — 
We're  done  alike  with  boast  and  doubting. 
We  take  the  trail  that  duty  blazes 

Be  the  issue  what  it  may. 

Brave  are  the  words  that  he  has  spoken, 
The  words  that  we  have  made  our  own. 

Our  blood  and  sweat  shall  be  the  token 
We  fight  for  righteousness  alone. 

O  God,  who  knowest  all  the  making 

Of  noble  vows — and  all  their  breaking — 
38 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  39 

Grant  that  our  word  be  never  broken, 
Our  banner  never  overthrown. 

Give  us  to  keep  without  misprision 
The  truth  our  souls  have  understood, 

Clean   above   hatred   and   derision, 

Strong  through  our  evil  days  and  good. 

To  love  life's  worth,  not  life's  preserving, 

More  than   success  to  honor  serving, 

Faithful   forever  to  our  vision 

Of  liberty  and  brotherhood. 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr. 


FALL  IN! 

We  thought  that  reason  had  mastered  men, 

That  peace  of  the  world  was  lord, 
That  never  the  roll  of  the  drum  again 

Should  quicken  the  thirsty  sword — 
But  our  bubble  broke  with  a  sudden  blow, 

And  wc  heard  like  the  trumpet's  din 
That  levelled  the  walls  of  Jericho 

The  old  stern  cry — "Fall  in!" 

We  were  numb,  amazed,  we  were  sick  and  dazed 

With  a  horror  past  belief. 
Silent  we  stood  while  Belgium  blazed 

Jn  her  martyr's  glory  of  grief. 

Then  it  came  so  near  that  we  needs  must  hear, 

For  the  cry  oi'  our  murdered  kin 
40 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  41 

Drove  in  our  heart  like  a  searching  spear 
The  call  of  the  hour— "Fall  in!" 

Not  in  the  flush  of  a  barren  thrill 

Do  we  come  to  our  deed  at  last. 
We  have  weighed  our  will,  we  must  do  our  will, 

For  the  doubting-time  is  past. 
We  have  faced  our  souls  in  the  sleepless  night, 

And  what  shall  we  fear  but  sin? 
Not  for  love  of  the  fight,  but  for  love  of  the  right, 

In  the  nanie  of  our  God — "Fall  in!" 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr. 


BLACK  FLAG! 

Run  up  your  Black  Flag, 

Skull  and  crossbones  display ! 

Why  should  you  palter — why  should  you  lag?- 
For  never  was  freebooting  crew, 

From  Heligoland  to  Cathay — 
And  the  Coast  of  Barbary,  too, 
So  deserved  the  foul  ensign  as  you ! 

Yes,  run  up  the  Black  Flag, 

Too  long  have  your  colors  been  hid ! 

Make  good  your  insolent  brag, 

Who  have  staked  off  the  waters  at  will, 

And  the  honored  sea-law  have  defied, 

Going  forth  to  plunder  and  kill ! 

You  have  staked  off  the  waters  at  will — 
42 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  43 

What!     You  yet  think  to  forbid? 
Sea-way  for  other  Flags,  too — 
Way  for  the  Red-White-and-JBlue ! 

But  it's  down  with  your  Black  Flag — 

Down,  in  the  end,  it  must  be, 
In  the  depths  where  you  lurk  let  it  drag — 
Down  to  the  charnelled  abyss  .  .  . 

You  hearken  the  World's  decree? — 

Pirates  were  hunted  ere  this, 

And  you  shall  be  swept  from  the  sea-! 

Edith  M.  Thomas. 


A  SONG  OF  DEMOCRACY 

It  isn't  just  because  some  ships  were  lost, 
And   children   drowned,   and   women,   and   strong 
men. 

That's  bad  enough,  God  knows ! 

But  the  Prussians  were  our  foes 
Long  before  their  cruel  wolf-pack  left  its  den. 

It  isn't  just  because  their  hunting  pack 
Tore  at  Belgium's  throat  to  reach  the  throat  of 
France. 

No,  by  Heaven !    It's  because 

They  are  traitors  to  all  laws 
Made  by  God  to  curb  the  Devil's  arrogance. 

They  are  traitors  to  humanity,  no  less ! 

They  acknowledge  nothing  nobler  than  their  will 
44 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  45 

To  conquer  and  subject 
All  peoples  who  respect 
The   Holy  Vow  man  struggles   to   fulfil. 

For    man    has    dreamed    a    dream    and    sealed    a 

Vow, 
Yea,  man  has  sealed  a  Vow  before  the  Lord 

Of  Righteousness  and  Peace: 

He  has  sworn  that  war  shall  cease 
And  the  reign  of  Reason  triumph  o'er  the  Sword ! 

He  has  sealed  a  Holy  Vow  that  privilege 
Shall  perish  from  an  Earth  where  all  are  free ; 

That  his  children  shall  not  fight, 

As  he  must,  the  Huns  of  Night, 
But  be  brothers  in  the  Light  of  Liberty. 

God  save  us  from  all  traitors  to  that  Dream; 
God  shield  us  from  all  traitors  to  that  Vow ! 


46  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

God  give  us  strength  to  smite 

All  traitors  to  that  Light — 

Lord  God  of  Man  United,  aid  us  now ! 

Lee  Wilson  Vodd. 


OUR  AIM 

We  have  been  patient:  we  have  been  ashamed, 

Through  dismal  days  and  weeks  and  months  and 

years 

Insulting     hands     have     cuffed     our     burning 

ears.  .  .  . 

Our  patience  crumbled,  and  our  anger  flamed. 

The  spirit  of  the  Union,  never  tamed, 

Jumps  to  the  cannon  'mid  a  nation's  cheers, 

And  marches  to  take  part  among  its  peers. 

We     aim     as     straight     as     we     have     always 

aimed. 

England  and  Russia,  Montenegro,  France, 

Rumania,  Serbia,  Belgium,  Italy, 

Japan, — we  come  to  join  in  your  advance! 
47 


48  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Your  foe  is  ours,  our  friend  becomes  your  friend. 

And  to  you  all,  and  to  our  sons,  say  we : 

We  hate  this  hateful  war,  and  it  shall  end ! 

Louis  How. 


THE  BINDING  OF  THE  BEAST 

He  plotted  in  the  den  of  his  lordship  over  men; 
He  wrought  his  grim  array  and  he  hungered  for 

the  Day. 
Then  the  loosing-word  was  spoken;  then  the  seal 

of  Hell  was  broken; 
Then  its  Princes  were  assembled  for  the  feast; 
But   against   the   Vandal   night   rose   the   star   of 

Freedom's  light, 
And  a  world  was  called  together  for  the  binding 

of  the  Beast. 

They  have  seen  it  for  their  star;  they  have  come 

from  near  and  far; 

From  the  forges  of  the  North  go  the  men  and 

young  men  forth, 

49 


50  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Having  found  the  holier  duty,  found  the  true,  the 

final  beauty, 
As  their  brothers  of  the  South  and  of  the  East. 
In   the   forests   of   the   West  they   have   given   of 

their  best, 
With  strong  hands  and  patient  for  the  binding  of 

the  Beast. 

For  his  treason  unto  man  in  the  War  that  he  be- 
gan, 

For  the  rapine  and  the  flame,  for  the  hissing  of 
his  name, 

Have  the  hosts  gone  up  against  him  and  with 
swords  of  judgment  fenced  him, 

With  his  coward  clutch  on  woman  and  on  priest. 

For  the  children  he  has  maimed,  for  the  maidens 
he  has  shamed, 

The  nations  gird  their  harness  for  the  binding  of 
the  Beast. 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  51 

Now  frothing  in  his  rage,  a  scourge  to  youth  and 

age, 
Caked  with  blood  he  stands  at  bay,  with  his  feet 

upon  his  prey. 
Ringed   with   surf   of   guns   resounding,    raw   and 

fetid  from  the  hounding, 
Smites  he  still  in  baffled  fury  and  the  roar  of  hate 

releast; 
But  the   huntsmen   of  the  ranks,   with   their   steel 

at  breast  and  flanks, 
Give  no  truce  nor  sign  of  respite  at  the  binding 

of  the  Beast. 

He  is  cunning,  he  is  strong,  and  the  war  shall  yet 

be  long, 
Where  the  seven  thunders  wake  and  the  walls  of 

heaven  shake. 
He  is  cruel,  blind  and  ruthless;  he  is  boastful,  sly 

and  truthless; 


52  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

By  his  will  the  Powers  of  Darkness  are  increast; 
But  the  shackle  and   the   chain  shall   avenge  the 

hurt  and  slain, 
Who  have  broken  bread  with  heroes  at  the  binding 

of  the  Beast. 

For  his  pact  with  Death  and  Hell,  let  us  bind  the 

monster  well, 
That  the  world  go  free  indeed  from  his  arrogance 

and  greed ! 
By  l lie  pact  he  dared  to  sever  make  we  treaty  with 

him  never, 
Till  the  murder-venom  in  his  blood  has  ceasl ! 
By  his   trust   in    force   and   war,   end    we   those   for- 

evermore, 
As    the   nations   sit    in   council    for   the   binding  of 

the  Beast ! 

George  Sterling. 


THE  FLAG 

Kiss  the  loud  winds,  O  darling  of  all  hearts, 

And  shoot  o'er  land  and  sea  thy  beams  world- 
wide ! 

How  many  thousands  in  thy  light  have  died, 
Radiant  and  sweet !  now  from  our  banners  darts 
A  greater  glory !  in  our  bosoms  starts 

A  deeper  joy:  so  swells  the  long-pent  tide 

Of  full  devotion  to  thy  sacred  side, 
And  from  impatient  millions  doubt  departs. 


Advance  thy  colors  in  the  captain-files 

That  vanward  lead  the  many-languaged  host 

Like  mighty  waves  that  lift  an  angry  sea, — 

And  break  the  German !  miles  on  headlong  miles 
53 


54  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Drive   him    from   churchless   land   and    shipless 

coast 

Till  law  again  for  right  be  sanctuary  ! 

George  E.  Woodberry. 


TO  ALL  AMERICANS 

(Tune:  Maryland,  My  Maryland) 
Our  answer  to  the  great  appeal, 

Americans,  Americans, 
Shall  prove  if  we  are  clay  or  steel, 

Americans,  Americans. 
Strike  manfully  for  liberty, 
Stretch  helping  hands  across  the  sea, 
And  keep  your  own  hearts  clean  and  free, 

Americans,  Americans ! 

Clean  of  the  pettiness  of  hate, 

Americans,  Americans, 
Free  to  the  love  of  all  things  great, 

Americans,  Americans. 

Clean  of  untruth  and  fear  and  greed, 
55 


56  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Free  faithfully  to  serve  the  need 

Of  God,  wherever  He  may  lead, 

Americans,  Americans ! 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr. 


WAR  SONG  OF  AMERICA 

We  are  on  our  way  back  Home — 

Home  where  the  high  flag  flies ; 
We  are  on  our  way  from  the  rut 

With  the  flag  lust  in  our  eyes; 
So  those  of  you  in  the  van, 

Hark  to  our  warning  song — 
"Give  us  the  open  road 

Till  we  land  where  we  belong." 

Soft  we  had  grown  and  fat — 
Watching  the  Shadow  creep; 

Soft  with  the  dull  content 

Of  those  who  are  half  asleep; 

But  the  Eagle's  place  is  the  peak, 

And  now,  by  her  lands  and  seas, 
57 


)8  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Flung  to  the  world-wide  winds 
Old  Glory  goes  to  the  breeze. 

We  are  on  our  way  back  Home — 
By  the  trail  we  have  come  before; 

By  the  trail  that  leads  from  the  depths 
Through  the  swirl  of  the  Winning  Score; 

So  those  of  you  in  the  way 

Hark  to  the  chant  we've  spun — 

"Give  us  the  open  road 

Till  we  find  our  place  in  the  sun." 

Orantland  Rice. 


PROCESSIONAL 

Not  for  a  flaunted  flag,  O  God, 

Not  for  affronted  power, 
Not  for  a  scurrile  hope  of  gain, 

Not  for  the  pride  of  an  hour, 
Not  for  vengeance,  hot  in  the  heart, 

Now  do  we  swing  to  war; 
Not  for  a  weak  mistrust  lest  peace 

Is  a  shame  strong  men  abhor. 
Not  for  glory — for  oh,  to  kill 

Should  be  a  sacred  wrath; 
Not  for  these!     But  to  war  on  war 

And  sweep  it  from  earth's  path! 

Patient  has  been  our  creed,  till  now, 

Patient,  too,  our  hope, 
59 


60  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Patient  for  long  our  lothful  deed, 

For  the  just  in  doubt  must  grope. 
But  with  a  foe  at  last  arrayed 

Against  the  whole  world's  right, 
You,  O  soul  of  the  universe, 

Your  very  self  must  fight. 
You  yourself ;  so  but  one  prayer 

Need  we  to  lift — but  one, 
That  by  our  battle  shall  all  war 
Be  utterly  undone. 


Cale  Young  Rice. 


OMNISCIENT  MR.  FALL 

OR 

THE  WHOLE  TRUTH  ABOUT  THE  WAR 

Mr.  Fall,  who  reads  The  Call, 

Knows  it  all. 
He  can  tell  you  in  a  minute 

Why  we're  in  it. 
Moneyed  men  who  make  big  guns 

Bribed  the  Huns; 
And  when  Belgium  was  invaded, 

It  was  they  did 
Stir  up  Belgians  to  resist, 

Just  to  twist 
The  Lion's  tail— till  "War !" 

He  must  roar. 

Then  the  millionaires  of  France 

til 


62  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Saw  their  chance 
To  make  millions  making  shells ! 

— Fall  excells 
In  explaining  all  away 

From  this  fray 
Save  the  money  coalitions 

Of  munitions- 
Makers  make — ghouls,  full  fed  on 

Armageddon ! 
So,  of  course,  he  now  declares, 

Our  affairs 
Have  been  run  for  us  by  schemers 

Who  sent  steamers 
Out,  and  U-boats  out  as  well 

To  raise  Hell ! 
Wall  Street  knew  if  we  came  in 

'Twould  begin 
To  grow  richer  that  much  faster 

From  disaster. 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  63 

It's  so  simple. — Can't  you  see 

It  must  be 
Just  as  Mr.  Fall  asserts ! 

Yellow  dirt's 
(Both  as  cause,  and  as  effect) 

Why  we're  wrecked. 
How  ahout  it?     Do  you  doubt  it? 

Can  you  doubt  it — 

When  Fall,  who  rends  The  Call, 

Knows  it  all? 

Lee  Wilson  Dodcl. 


THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES 

We  who  in  the  old  days — the  easy  days  of  pleasur- 
ing— 

Loitered  in  the  distant  lands — we  know  the  thrill 

that  came 
When   in   far,  foreign   places,   above,  the   stranger 

faces, 
The  sight  of  it,  the  might  of  it,  would  wake  us 

like  a  flame. 
Our  own  flag,  the  one  flag,  it  stirred  our  blood 

to  claim. 

We  who  in  these  new  days — these  days  of  all  con- 
fusion— 
Look  upon   it  with  the  eyes  of  one  long  blind 

who  sees. 

64 


FIFES    AND    DUUMS  65 

We    know    at    last    its    beauty — its    magnitude    of 

duty — 
Dear  God !  if  thus  it  seems  to  us,  what  will  it 

mean  to  these 
Who  stay  for  it,  who  pray  for  it,  our  kindred 

over  seas? 

These  who  face  the  red  days — the  white  nights  of 

fury, 

Where  death  like  some  mad  reaper  hacks  down 

the  living  grain — 

They  shall  see  our  flag  arise  like  a  glory  in  the 

skies — 

The  stars  of  it,  the  bars  of  it,  that  prove  it  once 

again 

The  new  flag,  the  true  flag,  that  does  not  come 

in  vain! 

Theodosia  Garrison. 


THE  GERMAN-AMERICAN 

Honor  to  him  whose  very  blood  remembers 
The  old,  enchanted  dream-song  of  the  Rhine, 
Although  his  house  of  life  is  fair  with  shine 

Of  fires  new-kindled  on  the  buried  embers; 

Whose  heart  is  wistful  for  the  flowers  he  tended 
Beside  his  mother,  for  the  carven  gnome 
And  climbing  bear  and  cuckoo-clock  of  home, 

For  the  whispering  forest  path  two  lovers  wended ; 

Who  none  the  less,  still  strange  in  speech  and  man- 
ner, 
With   our   young   Freedom   keeps   his   plighted 

faith, 
Sides  with  his  children's  hope  against  the  wraith 

Of  his  own  childhood,  hails  the  Starry  Banner 
66 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  67 

As  emblem  of  his  country  now,  to-morrow; 

A  patriot  by  duty,  not  by  birth. 

The  costliest  loyalty  has  purest  worth. 

Honor  to  him  who  draws  the  sword  in  sorrow ! 

Katherine  Lee  Bates. 


OUR  BARGAIN 

Is  all  our  world  upon  a  counter  laid  ? 

That  is  their  taunt  who  say  they  know  us  well. 
Then,  like  true  merchants,  let  us  to  our  trade; 

What  wares  has  God  to  sell  ? 

A  world  at  liberty,  a  path  made  clear 

For  steadfast  justice  and  enduring  peace, 

Nations  released  forever  from  the  fear 
Of  evil  days  like  these — 

A  sound  investment !  but  .  .  .  the  price  is  high. 

Long-hoarded  wealth  in  ruin,  flame  and  steel, 

Death  lurking  in  the  sea  and  in  the  sky — 

What  say  you?     Shall  we  deal? 
68 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  69 

Shall  wc  know  terror,  shall  our  strong  ones  fall 
That  others'  children,  fearless  in  the  sun, 

.May  sec  our  visions  and  accomplish  all 
That  we  must  leave  undone? 

We  take  thy  bargain,  Master  of  the  Mart. 

Though  we  may  flinch,  we  cannot  turn  away. 

Send  thy  resistless  fire  upon  our  heart 

And  make  us  strong  to  pay. 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr. 


BLOW,  O  YE  BUGLES 

Blow,  O  ye  bugles,  bugles  of  the  morn ! 

Blow,  O  ye  bugles  of  the  sunset,  blow ! 
Sound    your    clear    notes,    your    ringing    notes    of 
scorn, 

Against  the  embattled  legions  of  the  foe! 

Tell  them  in  clarion  accents  that  we  stand 
For  freedom,  and  the  birthright  of  the  free ; 

No  bloody  tyranny  upon  sea  or  land, 
But  the  inalienable  truths  of  Liberty ! 

Acclaim  your  triumph  paean  over  Might, 

Your  call  for  justice,  and  the  overthrow 

Of  all  the  hordes  that  fight  against  the  Right  !— 

Blow,  O  ye  bugles,  valiant  bugles,  blow ! 

Clinton  Scollard. 

i70 


AMERICA  IN  ARMS 

We  have  not  willed  this  war, 

Nor  heaped  for  man  this  monstrous  pyre, 
But  we  have  sought  on  hell's  wide  shore 

To  queneh  the  awful  fire. 

This   war  was   willed  to   be 

By  one  who  sprang  on  a  world  asleep, 

And  now  his  talons  out  of  the  sea 
Have  drawn  us  in  to  the  deep : 

In  to  the  deep  and  the  dark 

Where  his  blood  is  drunk  with  the  splendor 

of  ships, 

As  he  lies  in  lair  with  a  steel-gray  shark — 

The  mad  foam  on  his  lips. 
71 


72  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

No  more,  then,  now  no  more 

'Tis  ours  to  watch  by  the  burning  lake, 
But  ours,  thank  God,  to  wage  this  war, 

Thank  God — for  freedom's  sake, 

Till  freedom  shall  be  strong 

Through  hell  her  heavenly  work  to  do; 
For  force  is  neither  right  nor  wrong 

But  the  use  we  put  it  to. 

So  this  is  the  pledge  we  plight: 

That  we  can  fight,  who  do  not  hate, 

And  we  for  freedom's  love  will  fight 
In  the  venomed  teeth  of  fate. 

Gird,  then,  our  hearts  to  blaze 

Once  more  through  battle's  black  alarms, 
God  of  our  fathers,  and  upraise 

America  in  arms ! 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  73 

So  her  free  soul  may  live, 

Then  ours — to  win  Thy  grail  or  grave — 

Are  an  hundred  million  lives  to  give, 

But  only  one  to  save. 

Percy  MacKaye. 


TO  THE  ALLIES 

Hands  across  the  sea,  brothers! 

Hands  across  the  sea! 
Here's  a  flag  to  fly  with  yours, 

The  emblem  of  the  free. 
Holy  hands  of  freemen  gave  it, 
Heart  and  life  we  pledge  to  save  it, 
At  your  side  we  lift  and  wave  it, 

Now  for  Liberty ! 

Hands  across  the  sea,  brothers ! 

Hands  across  the  sea! 
Here's  a  sword  to  draw  with  yours, 

'Gainst  monstrous  tyranny. 

Valiant  hearts  have  beat  beneath  it, 

Deathless  laurels  still  enwreathe  it. 
74 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  75 

Sadly,  sternly,  we  unsheathe  it, 
Now  for  Liberty. 

Hands  around  the  world,  brothers ! 

Hands  around  the  world ! 
Fling  the  married  colors  out, 

Never  to  be  furled; 

Till  the  power  of  Light  prevailing, 

Vict'ry's  heights  in  triumph  scaling, 

Sees  the  power  of  Darkness,  failing, 

Down  in  ruin  hurled. 

Laura  E.  Richards. 


OF  KINGS 

Ye  kings,  upon  your  gilded  thrones, 
Hear  ye  not  how  the  death-wind  moans  ? 
Can  ye  not  see  that  naught  atones 

For  what  your  hands  have  done? 
Hark !  how  a  stricken  people's  groans 

Mount  up  against  the  sun! 

The  innocent,  they  starve  and  bleed; 

And  do  ye  list,  and  do  ye  heed, 

Wrapt  in  your  dreams  of  power  and  greed, 

The  hastening  end  of  all? 

Hapsburgs  and  Hohenzollerns,  read 

The  writing  on  the  wall! 

Clinton  Scollard. 


76 


THE  KAISER 

He  stood  alone,  in  sovereignty  sublime, 

Uniquely  great, — the  Kaiser  !     They  that  feared, 
Yet  honored  him,  who  to  the  world  appeared 

Lofty  in  courage,  wise,  above  his  time, 
The  Monarch  of  the  hour ! — 

Using  his  strength  destructive  things  to  bind, 

Serving  the  Fatherland — and,  so,  mankind, 
Safe-guarding  Peace  with  Power. 


He  stood  alone?     How  lone  today  he  stands, 
The  eyes  of  all  fixed  wondering  on  him ! 
His  throne  ensanguined,  his  bright  aegis  dim, 

The    murderous    sword    clutched    in    his    lawless 

hands ! 

77 


78  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

What  spectacle  more  sad 

Than  Might  by  its  own  folly  wounded  so? 

Are  the  Gods  jealous  now,  as  long  ago, 

That  thus  they  make  ambitious  n    rtals  mad? 

Florence  Earle  Coates. 


THE  RETURN  OF  THE  EXILES 

The  gates  of  the  Siberian  waste  stand  wide; 

Great  joy  has  thrilled  the  mighty  wilderness; 

The  message  of  the  Lord  has  come  to  bless 
The  souls  in  bondage:  broken  is  the  pride 
Of  the  invincible  tyrant  who  doth  ride 

On  human  hearts,  and  thrones  him  on  distress ! 

Fallen  he  is !  his  victims  numberless 
Fill  the  long  roads  by  steppe  and  mountain-side. 

So  when  our  Lord  descended  into  hell 

And  broke  the  fetters  of  the  spirits  in  prison, 
A  glorious  company  to  heaven  made  way. 

What  triumph  more  divine  doth  history  tell 

Than  Truth  from  her  captivity  arisen, 

And  Faith  rejoicing  in  her  holy  ray! 

Qeorge  E.  Woodberry. 
79 


MESSENGERS 

(Tune:  The  Russian  Hymn) 
Lord  God  Omnipotent,  fortli  Thou  art  sending 

Us,  as  Thy  messengers,  blessed  with  Thy  Word, 
Souls   rich  endowed,  and    inspired   with   hope    un- 
ending. 
Shout  we,  America  hath  girt  on  her  sword ! 

Sword  of  Democracy,  tempered  and  glowing. 

Sword  of  the  Union — Free  States  in  accord — 
Sword  of  high  righteousness,  wrong  overthrowing! 

Shout  we,  America  hath  girt  on  her  sword ! 

Clear,    brave,    the    echoes    dart!      Our    message    is 
sounding: 
Safe  be  the  Rule  of  the  People,  O  Lord! 

80 


FIFES    AND    DRl'MS  81 

Safe  through  the  world,  all  injustice  confounding! 

Shout  we,  America  hath  girt  on  her  sword ! 

Florence   Mary   Bennett. 


SHOULDER  TO  SHOULDER 

Shoulder     to     shoulder !       Each     man     in     his 

place ! 
Shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  "right  about!  face!" 
We've  a  duty  to  do  ere  we  grow  a  day  older, 
And  the  way  we  can  do  it  is — shoulder  to  shoul- 
der! 

Shoulder  to  shoulder !    Each  man  in  the  line ! 
Shoulder  to  shoulder !    The  Flag  for  a  sign ! 
Yes,  let  us  not  weaken,  but  let  us  grow  bolder, 
And    rally    and    sally   with — "shoulder    to    shoul- 
der!" 

Shoulder  to  shoulder!     Each  man  in  his  might! 

Shoulder  to  shoulder !    We  fight  for  the  right ! 
82 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  83 

The   land   of  our   love — may   our   courage   enfold 

her! 

May  we  work — and  not  shirk — for  her,  shoulder 

to  shoulder! 

Clinton  Scollard. 


THE     ROUNDABOUT     COMMITTEE     AND 
THE  CIRCUMLOCUTION  BOARD 

A  Nation  went  to  war  against  a  rather  ruthless 
foe; 

It  hadn't  any  army,  so  it  wondered  who  would 
go 

To  do  the  deeds  of  valor  which  the  crisis  did  re- 
quire, 

To  help  the  French  to  take  the  trench  and  do  it 
under  fire. 


So  Congress  got  together  and  the  Senate  did   the 

same 
To  raise  a  million  soldiers  who  would  put  the  foe 

to  shame, 

84 


FIFES    AND    DRl'MS  85 

And  they  quickly  passed  the  matter  up,  with  one 
comjilete  accord., 

To  the  Roundabout  Committee  and  the  Circum- 
locution Board. 

Now   the    Roundabout   Committee   sat   and    talked 

for  weeks  and  weeks 
On   Methods  of  Preparedness  among  the  Ancient 

Greeks 
While   the   Circumlocution   Board   it   scratched   its 

thoughtful  double  chin, 
And  lingered  late  in  wise  debate  on  "Where  Shall 

We  Begin?" 

A  Patriot  rushed  in  and  cried,  "The  Foe  is  at  our 


But  the  Circumlocution  Board  replied,  "Just  tell 

him,  please,  to  wait. 
We're  listening  to  an  Army  Plan  devised  by  Sen- 
ator Drool 


86  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

To  raise  nine  million  soldiers  through  his  Corre- 
spondence School." 

Then    the    Patriot,    who    was    hasty,    raged    and 

stamped  upon  his  hat. 
"You're   really   doing   nothing   and   you're    taking 

years  at  that." 
Whereat  the  wise  Committee  bobbed  its  head  and 

answered,  "True. 
Take    note    of   that,    stenographer.      That's    what 

we're  here  to  do." 

A  Military  Training  Bill  the  President  did  advise 

They  set  upon  with  pencils  and  reviewed  with  hos- 
tile eyes. 

"It  is  much  too  plain  and  simple.  Let's  revise  it 
so  and  thus; 

We  can  jumble  any  issue,  if  you'll  leave  the  job 
to  us." 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  87 

So  at  last  the  land  grew  weary  and  implored  with 

shrieks  and  sobs, 
"Let  onr  welfare  be  conducted  by  some  men  who 

know  their  jobs. 
Are  our  railroads  run  by  poets?     Or  do  cobblers 

harvest  hay? 
Then    in    military    matters    why    should    windmills 

rule  the  day?" 

But  the  question  was  so  pointed  and  its  moral  so 
direct 

That  it  could  not  thread  the  labyrinthine  hallways, 
we  suspect, 

Leading   to    the    Inner    Sanctum    of    the    Crooked 
Wooden  Sword, 

Of  the  Roundabout  Committee  and  the  Circumlo- 
cution Board. 

Wallace  Irwin. 


AMERICA 

(two  portraits) 

I 

"For  all  her  busyness  and  prate, 

Too  easy-going  to  be  great, 

She  wastes  her  soul  and  winks  at  Fate: 

Poor  foolish  virgin  who'll  not  trim 

Her  lamp,  even  when  its  light  grows  dim; 

Capricious,  ruled  by  chance  and  whim. 

Her  soft  good-nature  cannot  brook 
The  anguish  of  a  steady  look 
Upon  Time's  hourly  posted  Book: 

Time's  Book,  wherein  is  written  plain 
The  loss  that  follows  slothful  gain, 
The  doom  of  all  who  shrink  from  pain. 
§8 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  89 

Lax,  optimistic,  indolent, 

On  momentary  joys  intent, 

She  counts  as  saved  all  she  has  spent. 

And  when  God's  ruthless  Questions  come 
Before  her  with  Truth's  Speculum — 

She  slouches,  simpers  and  chews  gum !" 

#• 

II 

No  portrait  that!     You  libel  with  your  pen 
This  anxious  Mother  of  unhasty  men. 

Her  heart  is  quick  and  true;  her  courage  sure, 
She  has  the  strength  to  suffer  and  endure. 

God's  ruthless  Questions  will  not  find  her  dumb; 
Her  Answers  will  be  noble.     Let  them  come. 

"Are  you  for  ease  or  honor?"    "I  am  for 
The  rights  of  living  men,  in  peace  or  mar." 


90  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

"Will  you  make  good  that  boast  through  days  of 

gloom?" 

" — Yes.     Though  my  breast  become  my  children's 

tomb" 

Lee  Wilson  Dodd. 


AMERICA,  TO  ARMS! 

She  stands,  a  guardian  of  the  endless  sea, 

Her  garb  is  golden,  and  her  lips  are  flame, 
She  is  the  portal  of  Eternity 

And  Beauty  is  the  realm  from  whence  she  came ! 
She  is  the  voice  of  many  bleeding  lands — 

America,  she  calls !     To  Arms !    Arise ! 

For  like  a  shimmering  sabre  in  the  skies 

In  scarlet  glow  she  stands 

A  guardian  of  the  earth  and  sea — 

Liberty! 

Blanche  Shoemaker  Wagstaff. 


91 


A  LESSON  IN  MANNERS 

We  have  neglected  certain  obligations, 

Albeit  in  a  purely  social  way, 
One  should  return  a  neighbor's  salutations 

And  make  a  party  call  a  certain  day. 
America  has  failed  in  manners.     Is  it 

A  trifle  that  we  lack  in  etiquette? 
Surely  'tis  time  that  we  returned  the  visit 
Of  Lafayette. 


Our  social  calendar  is  much  neglected, 

And  "busy"  is  not  always  an  excuse; 

Some  adequate  return  might  be  expected, 

And  courtesy  may  rust  for  lack  of  use. 
92 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  93 

Suppose,  in  manner,  both  polite  and  hearty, 

Before  this  suitable  occasion  goes, 

We  manage  to  return  that  little  party 

Of  Rochambeau's. 

Th  eo  dos  la  On  r  r  is  on. 


COME  TO  THE  COLORS 

(Air:     Russian  National  Hymn) 
Sons  of  America,  come  to  the  colors; 

Gather  in  arms  round  the  Red,  White  and  Blue! 
Far  over  land  and  sea  a  bugle  note  is  ringing; 

Sons  of  America,  it  sounds  for  you ! 

Long  have  ye  stood  apart,  the  conflict  grim  be- 
holding, 
Safe  in  your  distance  and  calm  in  your  might; 
Now,  in  the  hour  of  need,  your  banner  proud  un- 
folding, 
Sons  of  America,  uphold  the  right ! 

Kingdoms  may  pass  away  in  tumult  resounding, 

Thrones  and  dominions  may  crumble  and   fall; 
94 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  95 

Now,     while     Humanity     the     great     Advance     is 

sounding, 

Sons  of  America,  obey  the  call ! 

Laura  E.  Richards. 


OUR  FLAG  IN  FRANCE 

Up  with  the  flag  in  France,  lads,  np  with  the  flag 

in  France ! 
As  the  dawn-rays  rising  oversea,  so  he  its  bright 

advance ; 
The   dawn-rays   flaming  on   the   sea,   the  morning 

round  the  world — 
Long   and   dark    was    the   night    to   us,    while   the 

Stars  and  Stripes  were  furled ! 

Out  with  the  sword  in  France,  lads,  out  with  the 

sword   in  France ! 
As  the  sudden  gleam  of  a  twilight  star,  so  be  its 

flashing  glance; 

A  star  that  brings  a  mighty  hope  to  a  people  worn 

and  pressed; 

96 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  97 

Glad  were  they  for  the  kindly  word,  but  the  help- 
ing hand  is  best. 

Follow  the  guns  in  France,  lads,  follow  the  guns  in 

France ! 
Take  with   those  on   the   foremost  line   the   brave 

man's  fighting  chance; 
There's  a  people  here  behind  you,  whose  dreaming 

hours  are  past, 
Who   will  send  you   forth  with   a   swelling   heart, 

and  back  you  to  the  last. 

Fight  for  the  world's  defence,  lads,  as  your  fathers 

fought  before, 
For  truth   and   right   against   ruthless   might,   for 

freedom's  cause  once  more! 
Though  the  way  be  long  and  the  hazard  strong, 

for  glory  or  mischance, 
Up  with  the  flag  in  France,  lads,  up  with  the  flag 

in  France! 

Marion  Couthouy  Smith. 


THE  AMERICAN  FLAG 

They  wait  the  flag — These  men  who  hold  their 

own 
Against  that  beast  (blood-mad  and  madly  blind) 
Who  seeks  to  poison  all  of  human-kind, 
And  snarl  above  a  ravaged  world  alone. 
They  wait  the  flag — that  sign  that  shall  be  shown 
To  prove  that  with  them — one  in  might  and  mind — 
Their  mates  from  over-sea,  long  held  behind 
Strive   with   them   where   the    foremost   lines    are 

thrown. 


Dear  God,  to  see  that  day  when  France  shall  turn, 

Like  some  brave  mariner  who  fought  the  gale 

The  live-long  night,  to  see  against  the  dawn 
98 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  99 

Like  one  great  glory  in  the  sunrise,  burn 

The  spread,  white  wonder  of  a  nearing  sail 

That  signals  "We  stand  by — Sail  on,  sail  on!" 

Theodosla  Garrison. 


THE  YOUNG  BLOOD  SPEAKS 

Bon  jour,  Marcel !     Your  hand. 

At  last  our  stars 

Have  come  to  join  your  triple  bars; 

We're  here  to  fight  with  France — 

By  God,  give  us  the  chance! — 

We  heard  the  cries 

Of  helpless  children;  saw  the  frightened  eyes 

Of  women  shrinking  from  the  maddened  crew 

That  swept  their  land;  we  felt 

The  quiver  of  the  tortured  sod,  and  smelt 

The  smoke  of  burning  villages ;  we  knew 

You  needed  us,  that's  what  we're  coming  for — 

To  stop  this  war. 

Dis  done,  Emile!     We  couldn't  stand  their  cant: 

"God  and  the  Fatherland."     And  trampling 
100 


2170  2 

FIFE8   AND    DRUMS  101 

Your  tender  soil  for  that !     We're  here  to  fling 
Their  words  back  in  their  teeth.     For  us,  we  want 
Nothing  that  is  our  neighbor's;  we  have  come 
To   lead   our   stricken   brothers    and   their   women 

home, 
To  smooth  the  scarred  and  broken  earth,  and  plant 
The  fields  again.     But — if  we  must — 
We'll  deal  first  with  those  war-lords,  break 
Their  knees  and  bring  them  to  the  dust. 
For  France's  sake 
We'll  fight  until  we  drop. 
We're  here  to  make  them  stop. 

Allons!    Leon,  Gaspard ! 

We'll  help  you  win  this  war. 

Mary  Farley   Sanborn. 


MARCHING    WITH    PAPA    JOFFRE 

A    SONG  TO   FIFES   AND   DRUMS 

Marching! — What  are  they  marching,  there,  for? 

Rin-rin! — Ran! — Pata,  pata,  plan! 
Papa  Joffre  he's  coming   from  the  war: 

Vive  la — Vive  la  France! 
Blue    jacket    and    red    breeches    and    mustachios 

gleaming  white, 
With  a  Tommy  on  his  left  hand  and  a  Johnny  on 

his  right, 
He  has  come  to  give  America  his   Godspeed   for 
the  fight: 

Vive  I'Amerique!     Vive  la  France! 

Vive  la — Vive  la  France! 
102 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  103 

Fighting! — -What  arc?  they  fighting,  there,  for? 

Eho! — Eho!— Pat  a,  pata,  plan! 
To  make  men   free  men,  now  and   evermore: 

Vive  la — Vive  la  France! 
The  Kaiser  and  his  kaiserlings  they  guessed  that 

they  would  go 
And    ring    the    Paris     Christmas    bells,    a-laying 

churches  low; 
But  Papa  Joffre  beside  the  Marne  stood  up  and 
said:    No,  no! 
A   bas  les  Boches!     Vive  la  France! 
Vive  la — Vive  la  France! 

Cheering! — What  are  they  cheering,  there,  for? 

Hurrah! — Hurrah! — Hip,  hip,  hip,  Hurrah! 
Red,  white,  blue  flags — flaming  for  the  war: 

Vive  la — Vive  la  France! 
Jack   Poilu  he's  a  true  lad,  as   Papa  Joffre  has 
tried; 


104  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

John    Bull    he   is   another,   and   he   marches   Jack 

beside; 
And     Yankee     Doodle     joins     with      them — three 
brothers,   God   for   guide: 
Vive  I'Amcrique!   VAngleterre!   la  France! 
Vive  la — Vive  la  France! 

Praying! — What  arc   they   praying,  there,  for? 

Dieu!    Seigneur!   A  ton  Esprit  la  gloire! 
The  Peace  of  Justice  reign   forever  more! 

Vive  I'Espril   de  la   France! 
We  are  marching  in  alliance  that  our  faith  may  be 

restored ; 
We   are   fighting,   we   are   cheering,    for   a   nobler 

world-accord ; 
We  are   praying,  through  the  tempest,  unto   Lib- 
erty, our  Lord: 
•  Vive  V Alliance!     Vive  la  France! 

Vive  la  victoire  de  la  France! 

Percy  MacKaye, 


IT  IS  BETTER 

The  khaki  lads  with  drum  and  fife 

March  down  Fiftli  Avenue. 
Their  eyes  are  eager  for  the  strife 

That  moulds  the  world  anew   .    .    . 

And  you — and  what  of  you? 

It  is  better  to  travel  a  bloody  track 
And  come  home  dead  or  maimed — 

It  is  better  to  go  and  never  come  back, 
Than  to  stay  and  die  ashamed. 

The  lads  in  khaki  sweep  on  past, 
All  straight  and  straight  aligned. 

When  the  rattle  of  drums  is  gone  at  last, 

What  is  there  stays  behind? — 

Not  a  thing  remains  behind. 
105 


106  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

'Trvas  our  country's  very  self  marched  by. 

And  many  a  man  may  fall — 

But  it's  better  to  live  the  hour  you  die 

Than  never  to  live  at  all. 

Louis  How. 


ENLISTED 

Have  you  heard  the  shiver  of  bodies  hurled 

Chest  on  crashing  chest, 
When  thigh-bones  snap  like  pistol  shots 

And  men  meet  breast  to  breast  ? 
Have  you  seen  the  feet  of  a  maddened  horse 

Red-wet  with  the  wine  of  war 
And  wondered  in  crushing  a  comrade's  face 

What  you  had  killed  him  for? 

Ever  the  sweep  of  the  wave  of  men 

On  the  reef  of  j  agged  death, 
And  frozen  faces  like  cockle-shells 

Where  the  breaker  billoweth, 

The  out-flung  arms  of  a  down-lipped  boy 

With  his  throat  shot  through — 
107 


108  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Perhaps  his  shoulder  brushed  your  own 
Or  he  slept  last  night  by  you. 

My  fathers  followed  Washington 

Into  the  forests  dim, 
The  blood  of  Warren  at  Bunker  Hill 

In  my  veins  runs  from  him, 
When  Perry  crossed  from  ship  to  ship 

They  bent  their  arms  to  row, 
They  faced  the  Mexicans'  livid  hail 

In  the  shattered  Alamo. 

The  Susquehanna  knew  their  tents, 

They  perished  at  Bull  Run, 
Shenandoah  saw  our  dead 

Staring  at  the  sun; 
We  inarched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea, 

Starved  at  Andersonville, 
And  one  of  us  died  by  the  barbed-wire  fence 

Under  San  Juan  Hill. 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  109 

You  cannot  change  the  written  scroll 

Nor  alter  the  charted  plan, 
Ever  must  moaning  women  quail 

And  man  make  war  on  man; 
Out  of  strength  must  sweetness  come — 

Out  of  sacrifice 
We  melt  the  metal  and  forge  the  key 

To  enter  Paradise. 

I  thank  my  fathers  for  what  they  paid 

On  the  altar  of  the  years, 
I  thank  the  women  who  gave  me  birth 

In  agony  and  tears; 
I  could  not  wish  that  life  should  ask 

One  payment  less  from  me, 

And  the  bugle-call  of  the  arming  hosts 

Sets  their  old  passion  free. 

Willard    Wattles. 


CURRENCY 

"Let  us  pay  with  our  bodies  for  our  soul's  de- 
sire."— Theodore  Roosevelt. 


O,  high  of  soul,  flesh  dotli  not  overwhelm, 
But  is  the  means  wherewith  all  things  to  buy  ! 

Tt  is  the  coin  current  of  the  realm 
Wherein  we  live  and  die. 

Upon  our  far  strange  journey  to  that  Home 

P'rom  which  we  are  astray, 
The  Providence  that  destined  we  should  roam 

Gave  us  wherewith  to  pay. 

We  shall  arrive  if  nobly  we  aspire, 

And  spending  flesh  to  buy  the  spirit  free, 

Pay  with  our  bodies  for  our  souls'  desire 

For  perfect  liberty. 

M.  E.  Buhler. 

110 


TO  OUR  WOMEN 

(Adapted  from  the  French  of  Paul  Deroidede) 
Woman,  if  the  man  to  whom  your  heart  you  give 
Gives  you  all  his  heart,  to  you  alone  is  true — 
If,  American,  a  stranger  he  can  live 
To  America,  his  only  country  You — 
If  without  despising  himself  and  you  alike 
He  hears  his  duty  call  and  lifts  no  hand  to  strike — 
Woman,  your   clinging   hands   have    bent    his    soul 

awry. 
You  knew  not  how  to  love  him  if  he  knows  not  how 

to  die. 

Mother,  if  your  hoy  grows  man  in  years  alone. 

Loving  self  so  well,  he  has  no  heart  to  hear 

The  voice  of  higher  hopes,  if  he  has  never  known 
111 


112  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

The  steadfast  will  that  faces  and  overpowers  fear. 

If  in  the  perilous  hour  of  Freedom's  mortal  fight 

He  fails  to  dare  his  all  for  God  and  for  the  right — 

Mother,  your  love  has  crippled  the  soul   it   strove 

to  shield. 

You  knew  not  how  to  give  the  life  he  knows  no! 

how  to  yield. 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr. 


TO  THE  MOTHERS 

Mothers  of  men,  do  you  not  know 

What  you  gave  to  the  world  in  your  hour  of  woe? 

Born  of  courage,  and  doomed  to  stress, 

A  man  for  the  tasks  of  men — no  less ! 

Mothers  of  women,  can  you  not  feel 

What  all  the  signs  of  your  life  reveal? 

You  have  brought  forth  love,  with  its  sword  and 

fire, 
And  love's  high  crown  is  the  lost  desire. 

Mothers  of  men,  have  you  not  known 

That  the  soul  of  the  child  is  not  your  own? 

If  God  has  sealed  him  for  palm  and  cross, 

To  hold  him  close  were  your  bitter  loss. 
113 


114  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

Mothers,  mothers,  will  you  not  see 
All  that  your  gift  to  the  world  may  be? 
These  who  must  fight  a  wrong  abhorred 
Are  Michael's  angels,  who  bear  the  sword. 

Mothers  of  men,  then  loose  your  hold ! 

Love  grants  more  than  your  arms  enfold; 

Under  the  Cross  you  stand  apart, 

With  Mary's  sword  in  your  dauntless  heart. 

Marion  Couthou;/  Smith 


THE  GIRLS  THEY  LEFT  BEHIND  THEM 

We  are  the  girls  that  they  left  behind  them 

And  this  is  the  pride  that  we  wear  today. 
We  had  no  will  to  hinder  or  bind  them, 

To  bid  them  hesitate,  wait  or  stay. 
We  bade  God-speed  to  them  on  their  way, 

Not  with  the  sadness  of  hearts  resigned 
But  glad  of  the  call  they  must  needs  obey. 

We  are  the  girls  that  they  left  behind. 


We  are  the  girls  that  they  left  behind  them, 

Not  as  of  old  but  to  weep  and  pray, 

But    with    ready    hands     and    with    wit    to    find 

them 

Service  fit  for  the  part  we  play. 
115 


116  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

And  this  is  the  pride  that  we  wear  today 

(We  who  are  one  with  them  heart  and  mind) 

That  they  loved  ns  and  left  ns  and  marched  away. 

We  are  the  i»irls  that  they  left  behind. 

Theodosia  Garrison. 


A  FRENCH  CAPTAIN 

Three  wounds  ...  he  was  so  weak  .  .  .  just  to 

let  go 
The  grip  of  will  on  torn  and  weary  flesh — 
For   then   would   come   a   silence    .    .    .    and   long 

sleep    .    .    . 
And  when  he  waked — if*  waking  was  for  him — 
Then  lie  could  fight  again   .   .   .  but  now — O  God! 
Only  to  slip  to  earth  a  little  while 
And  lose  the  shattering  tumult  of  the  guns ! 
But  something  in  his  heart  would  not  let  go, 
Something  that  thudded  in  his  ringing  ears 
"For  France!     For  France!     For  France!"     He 

struggled  on 
Bleeding,  unconquered — and  unconquerable, 

For  when  the  bullet  struck  him  in  the  breast 
117 


118  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

He  shouted  to  his  men  as  he  went  down, 
"Never  fall  back!    It  is  my  last  command!" 

That  was  one  soldier's  death.     You  who  can  sneer 

(God  pardon  you!)  at  him  and  at  his  like, 

Walking  so  proudly  in  your  nobler  ways — 

Are  you  as  faithful  to  humanity 

As  he  to  France?     Do  the  stern  tests  of  peace 

Awake  the  God  in  you,  as  war  in  him? 

If  it  were  so — there  were  an  end  of  war. 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr. 


THE  RECRUIT 

Give  me  to  die  when  life  is  high: 

The  sudden  thrust  the  quick  release, 

lull  in  the  front,  in  harness,  not 
A  slow  decay  in  timorous  peace. 

There  is  not  any  way  but  this  ! 

I  would  not  shirk  the  joy  of  strife, 
Nor  lose  one  flash  of  perfect  death 

For  sluggard  years  of  coward  life. 

My  breath,  which  is  God's  gift  to  me, 
Exulting  waits  His  high  behest; 

My  heart,  which  moves  at  His  command, 
At  His  command  will  gladly  rest. 
119 


120  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

For  who  would  tarry  when  He  calls, 

To  haggle  at  the  heavy  toll, 

And  render  to  ungrudging  God 

The  insult  of  a  niggard  soul? 

Reginald  Wright   Kaufman. 


PRAYER  DURING  BATTLE 

Lord,  in  this  hour  of  tumult, 
Lord,  in  this  night  of  fears, 

Keep  open,  oh,  keep  open 
My  eyes,  my  ears. 

Not  blindly,  not  in  hatred, 

Lord,  let  me  do  my  part. 

Keep  open,  oh,  keep  open 

My  mind,  my  heart! 

Hermann  Hagedorn. 


121 


THEY    ALSO    SERVE- 
BEYOND  the  soaring  thrill  that  lifts  the  bean. 

To  martial  music  and  to  marching  feet, 
Beyond  the  thin  call  of  the  fife — apart 

From  brave  emotion,  and  the  sudden  heal 
Of  young  enthusiasm,  and  the  cheers 

Of  crowds  which  weep  and  rally  at  a  word 
Beyond  the  Fire  and  the  Wind  and  Tears 

The  still  small  voice  of  Sacrifice  is  heard  ! 


The  cripple  in  his  chair  who  does  his  bit — 
The  bent  old  woman  in  her  garden-plot — 

By  such  small  flames  the  holy  Lamp  is  lit — 

And    who    can    say    the    Country    needs    them 

not? 

122 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  123 

Not  for  us  all  the  right  to  rise  and  go 

To  unknown  Terror  over  haunted  seas — 

Yet  all  shall  reap  as  We-At-Home  shall  sow — 

And  thus  we  serve — unto  the  least  of  these! 

Faith    Baldtoin. 


HIS  JOB 

"I  didn't  raise  my  boy  to  be  a  soldier — 

The  nations  ought  to  arbitrate,  I  say — 
But  I  couldn't  face  my  son  if  I  made  him  leave 
undone 

His  bit  to  help  America  to-day. 
Though  I  couldn't  bear  to  think  of  him  in  battle, 

And  it's  terrible  to  trust  him  to  the  sea, 
I'll  give  him  with  a  will  where  he  doesn't  have  to 
kill 

Is  there  nothing  for  my  boy  and  me?" 

There's  a  call  for  him  that's  louder  every  minute; 

There's  a  hungry  world  that  he  can  help  to  feed. 

There's  a  fight  without  a  gun  that  is  waiting  for 

your  son 

Where  the  enemy's  the  vermin  and  the  weed. 
124 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  125 

If  you  didn't  raise  your  boy  to  be  a  soldier, 

If  you  didn't  raise  your  boy  to  be  a  shirk, 

Here's   a  job   for  head   and   hand — send  him   out 

to  till  the  land; 

What's  the  matter  with  a  farmer's  work  ? 

Amelia    Josephine    Burr. 


CONCERNING  PLANTING 

Friend  Kipling  wrote  some  lines  long  since  that 

ended  "Pay,  Pay,  Pay!" 
And  lie  helped  to  clean  up  Africa.     That  war  was 

children's  play 
With   this   that  has  to  sift  the  sea,  that's   playing 

hide  and  seek 
And  prisoners'  base  with   submarines   that    scuttle 

life.     Last  week 
I  heard  a  pure-food  specialist  stand  up  and   start 

his  chant 
With   "The  way  to  beat   Berlin   is  just  to   'Plant. 

Plant,  Plant!'" 

They  say  all  nature's  short  of  crops  this  year  and 

next  may  be. 

126 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  127 

The  world  is  shy  of  ships  beside.     It  spills  grain 

in  the  sea. 
The  answer's  wider  acreage.     The  farmer'll  do  his 

share. 
If  you  want  to  beat  those  butchers  of  babies  in  the 

air 
You'll  tell  your  wife's  relations  and  the  uncles  of 

your  aunt 
And  your  seventh  cousin  twice  removed  to  "Plant, 

Plant,  Plant!" 

Now  I  have  a  gift  for  gardens  and  I've  dug  my 

trenches  there. 
I've  planted  seeds  instead  of  shells  and  made  the 

neighbors  stare. 
I've  ranged  my  ranks  of  carrots,  and  beets,  and 

beans,  and  peas, 
With  pinks  and  roses  round  the  sides  as  pretty  as 

you  please. 


128  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

This  year  the  flowers  will  have  to  go.     My  wife 

says  that  we  shan't 
Steal  one  more  Belgian  baby's  life.     So  "Plant, 

Plant,  Plant !" 

This  year  the  game  is  gardens.     This  year  the  fad 

is  food. 
Gad,  if  they  plow  their  golf  links  up   I'd  cheer 

the  multitude 
That  have  the  money  habit.      If   all  would  take 

their  turn 
The  butlers  and  the  ladies'  maids  to  weed  and  hoe 

might  learn. 
Say,  that's  some  Cubist  picture.     My  kids  declare 

they  can't 
Slice  up  their  tennis  court.     But  Ma  says  "Plant, 

Plant,  Plant!" 

Canal  sides  in  New  York  will  bloom.     Beside  our 
railroad  tracks 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  129 

We're  going  lo  turn  the  Germans  out.     Around  the 

rusty  shacks 
Where  we  used  to  do  our  dumping,  and  on  every 

vacant  lot 
I've  a   picture  of  a  planting  worth  tons   of  steel 

and  shot. 
Though  pacifists  may  preach  and  doubt  and  fools 

may  rave  and  rant, 
We  are  going  to  knock  the  Kaiser  out.     So  "Plant, 

Plant,  Plant!" 

John  Curtis  Underwood. 


SPADES  ARE  TRUMPS! 

"Clubs  are  trumps !"  the  soldier  shouts, 

"By   might   alone  we   win   today; 

For  over  all  the  world  of  men 

The  strength  of  arms  holds  eager  sway." 

"Nay,    SPADES    are    trumps!"    speaks    Mother 

Earth, 
"The  might  you  boast  would  soon  be  gone 
Without  the  harvest  that  they  yield 
To  lend  you  strength  and  feed  your  brawn." 

"Diamonds  are  trumps !"  the  merchant  cries, 

"They  build  your  navy,  ship  by  ship; 

Place  guns  within  your  soldiers'  hands, 

And  give  your  fighters  swords  to  grip." 
130 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  131 

"Nay,    SPADES    are    trumps!"    speaks    Mother 

Earth, 
My  workers  share  the  richest  spoil: 
Where  would  your  boats  and  armies  be 
Without  the  fruitage  of  the  soil?" 

"Hearts  are  trumps !"  the  women  sigh, 
"We  give  our  husbands  and  our  sons, 
To  sail  your  ships  across  the  seas, 
To  bear  your  flags  and  man  your  guns." 

"Nay,    SPADES    are    trumps!"    speaks    Mother 

Earth, 

"The  guns  may  roar  on  land  and  sea. 

And  swords  may  flash  and  hearts  may  break — 

But  SPADES  shall  have  the  victory!" 

John  Kemble. 


THE  WAR  OF  BREAD 

"There  shall  be  no  unwarranted  manipulation  of 
the  nation's  food  supply  by  those  who  handle  it 
on  the  way  to  the  consumer." — President  Wilson. 


Of  all  the  wars  that  waste  this  world, 
Where  the  life  of  man  has  bled, 

This  is  the  war  I  most  abhor — 
The  theft  of  the  people's  bread ! 


They  who  hold  back  what  the  kind  Earth  gave 

In  the  billowing  fields  of  grain, 

Are  the  cowardliest  foe — for  their  secret  blow 

Strikes  for  their  own  base  gain. 
132 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  133 

Arm  of  the  law,  reach  forth  in  your  might, 

And  the  hidden  stores  unbind, 

And  defeat  their  power  who,  at  this  hour, 

Wage  dastardly  war  on  their  kind ! 

Edith  M.   Thomas. 


COLUMBIA'S  SHOP 
Columbia  has  opened  shop, 
(Come  buy,  good  folk,  come  buy!) 
None  may  despise  her  merchandise,- 
Her  price  is  far  from  high. 
Your  parcels  shall  be  neatly  tied 
With  red  and  white  and  blue, 
And  Liberty  (most  charming,  she) 
Shall  hand  them  out  to  you. 

Columbia  has  opened  shop 
As  any  lady  may, 
No  better  ware  is  anywhere, 
(Come  buy,  good  folk,  and  pay !) 
For  whosoever  buys  of  her 
Shall  have  her  thanks  the  while 
134 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  135 

And  Liberty  shall  take  the  fee 
And  give  the  change  and  smile. 

Columbia  has  opened  shop, 

(The  foreign  trade's  astir) 

Pray  step  inside — the  door  stands  wide — 

And  buy  a  bond  from  her. 

Theodosia  Garrison. 


THE  CHTLDLESS 

They  give  the  savings  of  their  life — the  dreams, 

The  hopes  of  youth,  the  care  of  yearning  years, 

The  tender  fostering,  the  love  austere 

That  served  by  chastening,  the  prayers  unheard 

Except  by  God — all,  all  the  priceless  hoard 

Of  love  that  goes  to  make  a  son,  a  man, 

They  give  all  this — with  sorrow,  yet  with  joy. 

It  may  be  they  shall  have  their  gift  again 

In  time  to  come;  it  may  be  they  shall  have 

For  their  one  comfort  that  they  gave  their  all 

To  help  God's  Kingdom  come.    .    .    . 

And  we — (O  God, 

Thou  knowest  why !)  who  have  no  sons  to  give, 

We  lend  our  gold  that  shall  be  paid  again 
L36 


FIFES    AND    DRUMS  137 

With  interest.     So  small  a  thing  it  seems ! 

And  yet — these  are  the  savings  of  our  life, 

And  there  is  nothing  petty  in  Thy  sight. 

Accept,  O  God,  our  offering — 'tis  to  Thee. 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr. 


THE  TEST 

Money  you  have,  though  children  none, 

Who  say  that  you  would  give  your  son 

To  help  dear  Liberty  to  live, 

If  you  had  a  son  to  give. 

Remember,  words  are  not  the  price 

At  which  the  wares  of  God  are  sold. 

Your  own  flesh  would  you  sacrifice 

Who  will  not  even  lend  your  gold  ? 

Amelia  Josephine  Burr. 


138 


A  SONG  OF  CONFIDENCE 

We  have  not  compelled  them,  urged  them,  nor  ca- 
joled them — 
Of  their  own  need  they  came  to  us,  their  own 
want  and  will. 
We  but  opened  wide  the  door,  bade  our  walls  en- 
fold them, 
Gave  them  of  our  plenitude,  as  we  give  them 

still. 
Surely  we  may  never  fear  lest  these  should  wish 
us  ill. 

We  have  broken  bread  with  them,  lit  the  flame  that 

warmed  them, 

Bade  them  share  our  children's  place  at  hearth 

and  bed  and  board. 
139 


140  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

We    have    bound    the    ancient    wounds — unhealed 

wounds  that  harmed  them — 
Shared  with  them  our  freedom   from  fear  and 

over-lord. 
Surely  these  shall  aid  us  when  our  hand  is  on 

the  sword. 

Not    with    misplaced    confidence,    not    in    foolish 

blindness, 

Do  we  trust  these  guests  today  who  have  known 

our  best, — 

These  who  wrought  with  us  in  peace,  walked  with 

us  in  kindness, 

These  shall  never  fail  us  when  men's  souls  are 

at  the  test, 

These  shall  guard  the  honor  of  the  House  that 

gave  them  rest. 

Theodosia  Garrison. 


"RIDE,  VIGILANTES!" 

Ride  through  the  land,  Vigilantes,  ride! 

From  this  bound  of  the  East  where  the  inrolling 

tide 
With  more  than  the  red  of  the  sunrise  is  dyed, 
As  crimson  the  foam  is  borne  to  our  strand! 
Ride! 

Draw  not  the  rein,  and  make  not  your  stand, 

Till  ye  come  to  the  slumbering  heart  of  the  land: 

Tell  them  who  sleep — so  loth  to  awake, 

All  unprepared  for  the  storm  that  must  break — 

Tell  them,  Humanity's  all  is  at  stake! 

Tell    them,    "  'Tis    Freedom    that    falls    in    the 

breach !" 

141 


142  FIFES    AND    DRUMS 

If  they  murmur,  adream,  "Our  peace,  we  be- 
seech— 

The  peoples  at  war — they  speak  not  our  speech !" 

Ye  will  say,  "If  ye  sleep,  then  sleep — to  your 
shame ! 

Freedom's  no  alien,  but  one  and  the  same; 

Wake  ye,  and  arm  ye,  in  her  great  name !" 


Ride,  Vigilantes,  lifting  your  light, 

Ride  through  the  day,  and  ride  through  the  night, 

Searching  out  Men  of  Valor  and  Might! — 

Ride! 

Edith  M.  Thomas. 


3) 

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